GROZNY, Russia (Kyodo) Keisuke Honda finally ended his dry spell as the Japan midfielder scored his first goal since this summer's World Cup in CSKA Moscow's 3-0 victory over Terek Grozny in the Russian Premier League on Sunday.
Honda's last goal in all competitions had dated back to June 24, when Japan beat Denmark 3-1 in South Africa to qualify for the second round on foreign soil for the first time.
Having played in both of Japan's recent friendlies against Argentina and South Korea, Honda was withheld from the starting lineup by coach Leonid Slutsuky and came off the bench in the 61st minute.
Honda played on the right side of an attacking midfield and in the last minute of injury time, nodded in a left-wing cross from Mark Gonzalez by the far post to close the scoring, snapping an 18-game drought.